Saturday, July 11, 2009

The NLM was recently made aware of a (relatively) new community of men, the Knights of the Holy Eucharist, founded by Mother Angelica in 1998. Since 2007, they have been associated with the Heralds of the Gospel, which anniversary they recently celebrated on the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul.

The Knights serve at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of the Angels Monastery (more widely known as EWTN of course) in various capacities, and study at Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, Connecticut, which we have featured here before.

From what I can see of this community of men, they have a very good mixture in their communal life and vision, being focused on the celebration of the sacred liturgy in accordance with the mind of the Church, on Eucharistic Adoration and the sacramental life, on education and formation in the Faith and on the apostolate.

I asked the Knights if they could provide the NLM with some introduction to their life so that we might present it to our readership. Here is that introduction.

"To accomplish so great a work, Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, "the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross" (20), but especially under the eucharistic species. By His power He is present in the sacraments, so that when a man baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes (21). He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20)." (Sacrosanctum Concilium, para. 7)

* * *

The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament is an oasis, a haven for pilgrims seeking refreshment, as well as for those who have lost their way. Mother Angelica, who founded the Eternal Word Television Network in 1981, built this House of God in rural Hanceville, Alabama, about an hour from the EWTN. Under construction from 1995-1999, the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament was solemnly consecrated on December 17, 1999.

The Sacred Liturgy, reverently offered according to the mind of the Church, is of utmost importance here. “…Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, ‘the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross,’ but especially under the eucharistic species” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7). The daily monastery Mass in the Ordinary Form is celebrated with much of the Ordinary in Latin. As the Church has asked, Gregorian chant is given pride of place here.

In addition, about four times a month, the Extraordinary Form of the Mass is offered, mostly by three Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, Frs. Joseph, Miguel, and Dominic. On July 1, feast of the Precious Blood, the Most Reverend Joseph Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, offered a Solemn High Pontifical Mass, assisted by members of the Society of St. John Cantius.

Where do the Knights of the Holy Eucharist fit into this picture? By summer 1998, construction of the Shrine was well underway. It was at this time that Mother Angelica saw a pressing need arise: With 400 acres of land, a monastery that houses over 40 nuns, and a soon-to-be-completed Shrine that would become a place of pilgrimage for thousands from around the world, Mother needed some dedicated men to serve the continuing needs of the Shrine. Thus she founded the Knights of the Holy Eucharist.

The Knights seek to follow Christ through a life lived in community and dedicated to the service of God. The primary focus of this service is the fostering of reverent devotion to Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament and the assistance and protection of the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration. They are loyal to the Holy Father and consecrated to Our Lady. The Knights serve all the Masses, Benedictions, and Holy Hours at the Shrine; they are thoroughly trained, as befits the service of God.

Since June 29, 2007, the community has been a branch of the Heralds of the Gospel, an international Association of Pontifical Right, whose mission is evangelization. The Herald strive to live the command “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,” both interiorly and exteriorly, as a reflection of God’s perfection. The Heralds are comprised of three groups: consecrated men (3,000); consecrated women (1,500); and Companions—people living in the world (27,000).

The Knights, whose Brother Guardian is Br. David Mary, are a young, vibrant, growing community with ten members, not counting two men who will be joining shortly. This coming semester, six Knights will return to or enter Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, Connecticut. In the future, the Knights intend to open a boys' academy near the Shrine. Such schools are an urgent need in today's society, where so many young people are not being formed properly. The Knight-priests will teach at the academy and assist with the needs of both the Shrine and the Diocese of Birmingham.